Downstairs, Chu Xici was a bit worried.

After dinner that night, Yege said she was tired from the exams and had a headache, so she returned to her room early. After all, the exams were over, and it counted as having laid down a heavy burden.

High school students usually start their winter vacation late; it always comes right before the year’s end, and the vacation isn’t more than just a few days.

Chu Xici could feel that Yege’s headache was just an excuse... he knew for sure, she must have overthought things again.

After all, this topic was indeed very sensitive.

Yege went back to rest, Chu Xici chatted a bit with Lin Yuenong, and then returned upstairs to rest.

But when he was on the stairs, he noticed that Yege’s door was not closed, and her room light was still on.

Is she not asleep yet?

Chu Xici slowly walked to Yege’s door, seeing her lying on the bed without even covering herself with a blanket, just sleeping with her eyes closed. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Chu Xici frowned.

How could this girl sleep like this? Isn’t she afraid of catching a cold?

So, he gently walked over, intending to wake her up, but then he noticed that on her face... there were still traces of tears.

And at this moment, he didn’t know what kind of dream she was having, her brow furrowed tightly, and from beneath her already damp eyelashes, a shiny teardrop slowly rolled down.

In that instant, Chu Xici’s heart ached intensely.

In the end, was it he... who made her sad?

Chu Xici sat by the bedside, gazing at her with eyes full of compassion. He reached out with his left hand, wanting to wipe away her tears, but as his hand extended and was about to touch her cheek, he... pulled back.

Then, he redirected his hand and pulled over the quilt nearby, helping Yege to cover up.

Yege felt someone draping a quilt over her and shifted her body a bit, then opened her eyes.

Seeing Chu Xici sitting right by the bed, Yege was stunned.

Instinctively, she quickly reached out to wipe away the tears on her face.

Why did she... cry?

And right in front of Chu Xici!

How awkward!

"Why did you come over!"

Chu Xici didn’t say anything, his gaze was fixed on her.

"Why were you crying?"

The sharp gaze made Yege feel like there was nowhere to hide, and her secrets seemed to have no place to escape under such scrutiny.

This feeling... was very unpleasant!

"I just had a nightmare!"

Yege found such an excuse.

Ultimately, wasn’t this the easiest reason for others to believe?

If before, when dad and mom were not at home, it was just Chu Xici and her, she threw all her feelings onto him, even fostered such thoughts. But now, mom had returned, all unrealistic fantasies were shattered, just like those colorful soap bubbles, beautiful indeed, but... one touch and they burst.

When she called An Xiaoyu earlier, she almost revealed her heart. But ultimately, she held back.

How could she let others know that the one she liked would be him?

If word got out, surely she’d be ridiculed, wouldn’t she? Ultimately, shouldn’t she put away those laughable thoughts?

But what could she do, she wanted to take them back but couldn’t...

Even though she told herself a thousand times it was impossible, she still hoped for the thousand and first time...

Just then, Chu Xici suddenly reached out, touched the top of her head.

"Don’t be afraid, I’ll always be by your side, accompanying you!"